Miniature Train Displays That Draw From Nature
A small company's elaborate holiday model-train displays are built mostly of twigs, leaves and gourds from the company's home turf: a wooded ridge in northern Kentucky. As a result, people in Washington, D.C., New York and other cities can enter a miniature wonderland full of familiar landmarks.
The Mile High Book Club: Great Airplane Reads
Travel can be stressful, with flight delays, waiting rooms, and hours in economy class. One of the best ways to survive this mayhem is with a good book. Author Susan Jane Gilman offers suggestions for six great books that won't embarrass you in airports.
'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic
This year's Christmas tale is adapted for radio from Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's favorite The Wind in the Willows. Washington, D.C., actress Jennifer Mendenhall narrates Chapter 5 — "Dolce Domum," or "sweet home" — starring Mole and Rat.
Best Books Of 2009
Fit To Print: Top Five Current Affairs Books Of 2009
These five picks from Steve Weinberg prove that nonfiction storytelling is still very much alive.
Maureen Corrigan's Best Books Of 2009
Fresh Air's critic picks the year's best fiction and nonfiction (plus a bonus mystery pick).
The Best Debut Fiction Of 2009
Granta editor John Freeman's top five debuts include three short-story collections and two novels.
Holiday Recipes
Which Food Stories Tempted You Most This Year?
From bacon desserts to vegetarian fare, Kitchen Window's most-viewed stories of 2009.
Gateau Basque: A Perfect Cake For The Holidays
The sturdy cake can be eaten at any time of day, says cookbook author Dorie Greenspan.
Tamales For Christmas Are A True Texas Tradition
A tamalada, where families make tamales together, combines a social gathering with hours of cooking.
Holiday Music
Annoying Music For Christmas
Just in time for the holidays, Jim Nayder of The Annoying Music Show! offers more Christmas music.
Swing Into The Holidays On Piano Jazz
Marian McPartland and guests from seasons past share memories and perform Christmas classics.
A Carolina Christmas, With Kathy Mattea
Hear the country and folk artist in concert, singing classic and contemporary holiday songs.
Hanukkah Lights
Hanukkah Lights 2009
Short stories about the festival of lights, read for you by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
Best Of Hanukkah Lights: Eight Stories, Eight Nights
We offer hand-selected works of Hanukkah Lights fiction: one for each holiday night.
Hanukkah Lights 2008
NPR's annual special celebrates the festival of lights with four newly commissioned stories.
The Best Music Of 2009
Viking's Choice: Metal And Outer Sound In '09
Lars Gotrich's near-OCD list-making habit revealed a notably louder strain of sound in 2009.
Desert Rock And 21st-Century Traditions: New Sounds From Africa In 2009
Writer Banning Eyre chooses his 10 favorite new music releases out of Africa in the past year.
Best Music Of 2009, From 'Song Of The Day'
Editor Stephen Thompson lets a single teardrop fall in a vast sea of year-end musical reflection.
NPR's Holiday Favorites
Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Stories
NPR presents stories from the archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas.
Sedaris and Crumpet the Elf: A Holiday Tradition
We reprise the 1992 David Sedaris story of holiday cheer known as the "Santaland Diaries."
A Holiday Reading Tradition For The Whole Family
Sally and Stephen Kern read to their kids pretty much every night, but one box of books is special.
Spirit Of The Season
'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic
Actress Jennifer Mendenhall narrates Chapter 5 of Kenneth Grahame's classic, starring Mole and Rat.
Miniature Train Displays That Draw From Nature
The scaled-down structures are built of twigs, leaves and gourds from a wooded ridge in Kentucky.
'Tinsel': Over-The-Top Christmas In Texas
Tinsel is Hank Steuver's story of his trips to Frisco, Texas, where Christmas rules.
Gift Ideas: Tools For The Dedicated Baker
Cookbook author Dorie Greenspan suggests a raised cake platter, cookie scoops and more.
Sen. Hatch Writes 'Extremely Catchy' Hanukkah Song
He did it in collaboration with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, who says he's "pleased as punch."
From Dickens Himself, Notes On 'A Christmas Carol'
The author's manuscript is marked up with changes he made when performing his famous story.
